Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-06-24
THE WIDO W'S BABY


Muggins Of her British Majesty's customs on
landing at Dover, never forgot the circum-
stance.
The captain was the one 70 vindicate the |
honor of the said British majesty. He was |
a short, stout, red dfaced, wel-fed and ex
ceedngly ill-tempered son of Mars. His |
martial tread and loud-voiced oaths did not |
convey the idea Of a carpet knight, yet he |
had never faced the foe nor sought the |
bubble reputation at the cannon's mouth
No; he had contented himself with filling |
the Queens Tobacco pipe" as the kiln |
where contraband goods were formerly |
burned was somewhat profanely styled.
The captain was prepared to fix any |
one who carried ashore one cigar or one |
inch of lace, pair Of gloves or any other |
item.
As he stood thus, watching the coming |
ashore of the passengers with STONY
British stare he espied a lady who walked |
with the gentle, appealing, uncertain step |
of a young widow.
She was followed by a nurse wearing the
cap and apron of French boHHe. and in the
arms of this nurse was baby in long and
flowing white robes.
The captain was on the alert
The lady came up 10 him, and, throwing
back her long Grape veil, addressed him in
deep, musical accents
"You are the custom officer, sir =
~ am, responded the captain rather
grutiiy.
Now the widow was sufficiently beautiful
to dsarm even the ill-nature of Captain
Muggins, and just the style of beauty he
would be sure to admire.
The widow was beautiful, with a clear
brown eye-or, rather, two of them-velvet-
lidded heavy fringed, full and languid,
prone 10 be cast down modestly and uprais
ed suddenly, to the no small confusion of
the luckless male bystander.
She wore the full attire of woe. a small
| Grape bonnet, with slight frost-work of
white under its brim, rested on her glossy
black hair. Such hair waving and shin
| ing and blue-back.
Her brow, 50 smooth and broad was un-
disfgured by lunatic fringe or bang Her
eyebrows were black and delicate, but
straight, not arched Her nose might be a
trihe large, but it was beautifully formed
and clearly chseled and her mouth was
beautiful-the lips so full and heartlike in
their proud arch, their coloring so fresh and
rich.
Then her complexion was of a soft, ruddy,
indescribable brunette tint, impossible to
| picture in words, but wholly charming her
/ chin was so finely moulded, and her throat
full and round.
Altogether, the irascible captain thought
"The finest woman I've seen for years ~
For the widows form fully equaled her
face, and she was handsomely dressed.
II am, madam he repeated. "Where
is your luggage .
Here it is. l am alone-that is, with
the exception of my nurse and baby. l
have TO travel so much now, and always
alone
Tears seemed very close TO the widows
lovely eyes, and a mournfully appealing
tone touched even the ironclad heart of
Captain Muggins.
All right, maam. Have nothing to de
clare, | suppose =
Nothing. Please examine my trunks,
for long to rest, and my baby has been
quite seasick, poor darling"
The trunks were examined carefully, for,
however fine woman the widow might be-
duty before sentiment was the captain s
motto.
Nothing was found, and the trunks were
passed.
The widow took the baby from the nurse 5
arms, and hushed it to sleep as it had evinc-
ed signs of disquietude by beginning to
whimper.
"A fine child, ma'am, said the captain,
who hated babies like poison.
II ho' peau'iiu' ~ y, III! ilenr! ItnS n3
mag ,n','l VI iis ue"' VII SUI oo'''
''i1 sentence .e,
ii1 Was oeautiiui s " az let'sU, as niuch oS
c0uiu oe seeli ot nun loi ne "as one mass ,s
concealed by veil.
He is a fine fellow-how old might he
be = The captains parboiled eyes shone
with interest he admired the widow more
every nloiilehU' ~,
oeNen months ,n.n ~ ~yo-iioi ~" Ppo' I' ilVuie
uai,ims AZ 'iluA no" ''iu'h ie mas 'i"'
eieu ,,
We mas, ma nam. am s..,,.,, -. Ill
res uy us ue15 ie'neI , s!Ia'se Mn'
hSe ~ NeeNs III III 10 anu OLA III i-i's
i"'l.1 aite' i'soeiy ,.,.,,,
M ~" ;,sj &c. ~, yoJ iI a..
IN : uol i'iiiiN 10 NY sou, - Siit
Se~i"ninB MiuoW WIN sMn' uP"aru
, ,,a.1 ,ash oi her aooIaUie eyes ous nii Po1' PI
rv'iG 10! 1 my ~ tI 'sn I Ilio i,u',i.l'
might even lose nm here Nle seelheu iI
aoou' 20 SiSe wa! W noi ree.s ..oi puT Jus'
a. ere i''ut eu
not SympaIhetlcaliy, Vhe ooH"e came VI
70 say Snat She "iiiaso "aiVe' anu Si'n m
+ hurIieu' IhalA YOU 81 inuon soo"-"S'
i Vhe DeauIIui "luoW ulsaPpeareu' =,
1 .
eIacuiateu % Vile caPoaih, as ne resumed M
uu'es; nc ieiy ''la' Wv Ia,
ooeh Hu'lVy ol gross N Jus''oe IN "o1 proSlu ~
lle MN ~l1h Just sucn a Mlie2 ihsveau a, " ol
, poor iaueu' weak eyeu' he"r' -oioAeh Nrs
"Issils' ,...r., III.
III ',iIee WeeAs ''ie 1eeu'nuI "I'u" Io
turneu 70 france anu III siA "seHs SUI
D again hah her luggage examined oy Vh'
captain VINO became more 1eePiy interest,"
a eu Inan before lhls sorI ol 1nl's toltinl
ueu lor nearly year, CaPlaih Musglh
was no" vloi1htiy eha''lore" ol the ioTeH
WluoM, VINO long NO Mo- hau i naoritgu j that mn ha
slaI heI name was Mrs; Gecii, anu eiihE ne
husband 1eatn hau leiI her very Wealthy
> tHoush sauly ihc1I'el'ien'eu Ii ny tno 'er'''
oi ms strange WIN.
Z Master hehry throHe aPace ne grew
Il WohHeTiuliy large ana heayy, ana was re
Z harKaDly goou DoyIso quiet.
ne Is qulve sailIl, saii vne t'p.''ll, .l1, a
" he suoou examining 'ho V'u''AS "iVoI i"'"'
p stormy voyage. .,,.... l.. ...,.,.....u
iSs anu, poor uaill'ls, nc oIleu 80 .si. Vei'
u ureauiully uurihs Vhe p''SSnse' ho Is qu''